Rose plant--Morden Blush variety

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of shrub rose plant is provided which forms attractive relatively large light pink to ivory blossoms which commonly are borne in small clusters having reflexed sepals. The variety exhibits a slightly spreading growth habit, combines winter hardiness and everblooming characteristics, and commonly assumes a height of approximately 0.5 to 1 m. The new variety propagates well by the use of softwood stem cuttings, and is well adapted for growing as colorful ornamentation in the landscape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of shrub rose plant of the present invention was createdby artificial pollination at the Morden Research Station, Morden,Manitoba, Canada. The new variety is a complex hybrid that was developedfrom Rosa arkansana Porter, the R. arkansana hybrids, Assiniboine andMorden Amorette, the floribunda, White Bouquet (U.S. Plant Pat. No.1,415), and Prairie Princess. Prairie Princess is listed as a shrub roseand has R. laxa Retz. and R. spinosissiama L. in its parentage. It isapparent that the new variety has three hardy species in its background.The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:

    Seed parent--[Prairie Princess×Morden Amorette].

    Pollen parent--[{(Rosa arkansana×Assiniboine)×White Bouquet}×Prairie Princess].

Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plant of thenew variety.

It was found that the new variety of shrub rose plant of the presentinvention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

(a) forms in small clusters attractive relatively large light pink toivory blossoms having reflexed sepals,

(b) exhibits a slightly spreading growth habit,

(c) exhibits an aptitude for propagation by the use of softwood stemcuttings,

(d) exhibits good winter hardiness, and

(e) is particularly well suited for growing in the landscape.

The buds and blossoms tend to be variable in coloration between lightpink to ivory with the coloration being influenced somewhat by thetemperature encountered. For instance, more light pink tends to beexhibited at cooler growing conditions.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. Itcan be grown to advantage as attractive ornamentation in parks, gardens,public areas, and residential landscapes. It is particularly well suitedfor growing in the landscape.

The characteristics of the new variety have been found to be homogeneousand stable and are strictly transmissible by asexual propagation (suchas softwood stem cuttings) conducted at Morden, Manitoba, Canada, fromone generation to another.

The new variety has been named the Morden Blush variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this character,typical specimens of plant parts of the new variety. The rose plants ofthe new variety described herein were grown outdoors at Morden,Manitoba, Canada.

FIG. 1 illustrates an open light pink flower and typical foliage of thenew variety;

FIG. 2 illustrates specimens of entire plants while growing in thelandscape wherein many of the blossoms are mature and exhibit a nearivory coloration;

FIG. 3 illustrates a specimen of a bud as the sepals open and begin toassume a relaxed configuration;

FIG. 4 illustrates a specimen of a bud in a further stage of openingwherein the sepals are reflexed;

FIG. 5 illustrates a specimen of a bud as the petals begin the unfold;

FIG. 6 illustrates a specimen of a flower when approximately 1/4 open;

FIG. 7 illustrates a specimen of a flower when approximately 1/2 open;

FIG. 8 illustrates a specimen of a flower when substantially fully open;

FIG. 9 illustrates specimens of leaves having nine, seven, and threeleaflets -- plan view -- obverse;

FIG. 10 illustrates specimens of leaves having nine, seven, and threeleaflets -- plan view -- reverse;

FIG. 11 illustrates a number of buds and flowers in various stages ofmaturity while present on a plant growing in the landscape;

FIG. 12 illustrates on the left a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens (sepals removed), and on the right a floralreceptacle showing the arrangement of the pistils (sepals and stamensremoved); and

FIG. 13 illustrates a specimen of new growth.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). Common color terms are tobe accorded their ordinary dictionary significance. The description isbased on the observation of specimens of the new variety while grownoutdoors at Morden, Manitoba, Canada.

Class: Shrub.

Plant:

Height.--Approximately 0.5 to 1 meter on average.

Width.--Approximately 50 cm. on average.

Habit.--Slightly spreading.

Branches:

Color.--Young stems: bronze green, Yellow-Green Group 146B to 146C, andslightly shaded with reddish coloration during cooler growingconditions. Mature stems: bronze green, Yellow-Green Group 146B to 146C,and slightly shaded with reddish coloration during cooler growingconditions.

Prickles.--Shape: slightly concave on upper edge, slightly concave onunder edge, and the base is dilated. Size: medium. Quantity: moderatelynumerous. Color: reddish in coloration.

Leaves: Compound and pinnate.

Stipules.--Adnate, fairly narrow and linear, hairs along edge toslightly glandular, auricles are erect.

Petioles.--Upper surface: green in coloration with glandular edge. Undersurface: green in coloration.

Petiolules.--Very short or non-existent.

Foliage.--Number: 3, 5, 7, or 9. Shape: oval to rounded base, someuneven, acute tip. Serration: single and fairly regular. Generalappearance: semi-dull. Color (young foliage): Upper surface: mediumgreen, Yellow-Green Group 147A. Under surface: medium green,Yellow-Green Group 147B. Color (adult foliage): Upper surface: GreenGroup 137A to Yellow-Green Group 147A. Under surface: Yellow-Green Group147B.

Rachis.--A few small thorns are present on under surface, slightlygrooved, a few transparent to white hairs are present in the groove, anda few glands to pre-thorn knobs may be disposed along the outer tworidges at the top.

Inflorescence:

Number of flowers.--Usually 1 to 5 per stem.

Peduncle.--Erect, light green, and slightly glandular.

Sepals.--Upper surface: white tomentose, greenish in coloration, mayalso bear a slightly reddish coloration. Under surface: light green incoloration, very slightly glandular with glandular edges. Appendages:one or two sepals commonly have a small linear outgrowth on the side,and 1 or 2 sepals commonly have no appendages. Shape: tapering to a longnarrow tip, commonly one sepal has a leaflike tip, and the others havean attenuate tip.

Buds.--Shape: pointed before the opening of the sepals, progressivelybecomes ovoid, and then globular as it opens. Length: approximately 2cm. on average outside the calyx at the opening of the sepals. Colorupon opening: outer petals are light pink, Red Group 36D to Red Group49D with a darker pink midrib, Red Group 55A to 55B, and the innerpetals are poppy pink to coral pink, Red Group 38C to 38D.

Flower.--Shape: initially cup-shaped, and subsequently assumes aflattened configuration (as illustrated), center petals tend to infoldtightly forming a button center. Diameter: approximately 6 to 7 cm. onaverage, and substantially round when viewed from above. Color (whenblooming): light pink, Red Group 55A to 55B. Color (at end of blooming):ages to ivory, White Group 155D, with a light green base, Yellow-GreenGroup 154C. Fragrance: slight. Petal form: broadly circular to broadlyobovate. Petal texture: intermediate. Petal number: approximately 52 onaverage, commonly varies ±20. Petal drop: the petals drop off fairlycleanly. Anthers: gold in coloration. Filaments: yellow-green incoloration. Stigmas: cream to light yellow coloration. Styles: hairyalong length, located below the anthers, and not attached to each other.Receptacle: light green at the dehiscence of the anthers, inlongitudinal section it is globular and in the shape of a cup, and formsfertile hips with the sepals often being retained in a somewhat reflexedconfiguration often in the absence of dehiscence; however, sometimes afew sepals will dehisce.

Development:

Vegetation.--Intermediate vigor.

Blossoming.--Intermediate.

Hardiness.--Survives consistently without coverage on the CanadianPrairies (Zone 3b; Quellet and Sherk 1967).

Resistance to diseases.--Moderate.

Preferred mode of propagation.--Softwood stem cuttings.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of shrub rose plant characterizedby the following combination of characteristics:(a) forms in smallclusters attractive relatively large light pink to ivory blossoms havingreflexed sepals, (b) exhibits slightly spreading growth habit, (c)exhibits an aptitude for propagation by the use of softwood stemcuttings, (d) exhibits good winter hardiness, and (e) is particularlywell suited for growing in the landscape;substantially as herein shownand described.